View Park junior linebacker Cameron Giffin uses size, speed, math, and physics to "bring the pain" on opposing ball carriers. And his 3.67 gpa will help him get to college. Photo by Jason Lewis

Ask most linebackers what makes them tick, and they will talk about being aggressive and tough. View Park junior Cameron Griffin, who plays both middle and outside linebacker, has those traits, but those attributes are not the first things that he will mention about himself. His answer is quite different.

"Things like physics and angles, angles that it takes to make the hit or to bring the hardest contact, and how can I make my body more aerodynamic which allows me to run faster," Griffin said. "It relates to physics and math."

That is an answer from a student who has a 3.67 grade point average, and who wants to major in mechanical engineering when he goes to college. The results of Griffin's intelligence.

"I bring the pain!" Griffin said.

Through the first six games of the season Griffin racked up 70 tackles. Standing at 6-3 and 215 pounds, Griffin is bigger than most ball carriers, and the scary thing is that he is just as fast as most of them. When opponents try to run away from him, he uses his quickness and he adjusts his angles to run down the ball carriers.

Griffin has picked up the sport quickly. Growing up he played basketball, and never played youth football. His issue in basketball was that he fouled out a lot because he was so aggressive, so football was the perfect sport for him.

In the classroom Griffin's favorite subjects are math and physics.

"I like the challenge," Griffin said. "I like to have to think critically to solve problems."

Griffin has a simple schedule. That would be school, football, homework, study, sleep, then repeat. He does a lot of his homework in study hall before football practice, and when he gets home he completes his homework. But he does not stop there. He sets time aside to study what he learned, instead of just turning in assignments.

Griffin does find time to break away from his daily schedule, as he volunteers at Greater Founding Life Church of God and Christ, and he has been working on his public speaking abilities.

"My dad always told me that a closed mouth never gets fed, so I like to be able to speak up for myself," Griffin said.

View Park's head football coach Robert Ambers sees a bright future from Griffin.

"This year he has really taken his game to another level," Ambers said. "His upside for the future is just unbelievable. He runs from sideline to sideline. His skill level is just off the chain. He just works really hard at practice. And he's a really great kid, on and off the field. I'm really excited about his future, and I'm sure that he is going to be highly recruited."

Damion Nunley, an administrator at View Park, also had great things to say about Griffin.

"I admire his work ethic," Nunley said. "Cam is one of those guys that can breeze by and with minimal effort he can get an 85 or 90 percent. But he pushes himself, so he gets a 95, or a perfect score. He can really turn it on. Another thing about Cam is that he is a good person. He's the guy on the team that leads by example, but he also puts his arm around the guy who needs to step his game up."

Griffin does find some time to have some fun, as he is also a musician. He plays the bass and guitar. His opinion about how good he is: